Key facts
- Chinese President Xi Jinping advocated for increased AI cooperation among developing nations at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai.
- The conference highlighted China's drive for self-sufficiency in AI technology, with Huawei showcasing its Atlas 950 SuperPoD AI computing system.
- Huawei's system utilizes thousands of Ascend AI processors and high-speed interconnects, aiming to function without advanced U.S. chips.
- China is promoting its open-source AI models as an accessible alternative to Western technologies.
- The event also serves as a platform for China to advance its vision for global AI governance, including the proposed World AI Cooperation Organisation (WAICO).
Chinese President Xi Jinping used the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai to call for enhanced cooperation on artificial intelligence among developing countries, aiming to close the global technology gap. The conference, running from July 17 to 20, also served as a platform for China to showcase its domestic AI advancements and project its ambitions in global AI governance.
Huawei unveiled its Atlas 950 SuperPoD, a large-scale AI computing system designed to operate using thousands of its Ascend AI processors and high-speed interconnects, signaling progress toward building AI infrastructure independent of U.S. technology. This development was further highlighted by DeepSeek's adaptation of its latest V4 model to run entirely on clusters built with Huawei's chips. Other Chinese chipmakers, including Biren and MetaX, also announced new computing clusters.
The WAIC is positioned as a geopolitical stage where Beijing seeks to articulate its vision for AI, contrasting with U.S. approaches to AI governance. China has previously proposed the creation of a World AI Cooperation Organisation (WAICO) and is expected to promote its open-source AI models as a low-cost alternative to Western offerings, emphasizing AI as a public good.
International participation includes leaders such as Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, alongside notable figures in AI research. This engagement underscores China's efforts to build AI capacity-building ties, particularly with Southeast Asian nations, portraying itself as a champion for developing countries in the AI race.